Car construction



y ,1 E. H. LEHMAN 2,348,913

GAR CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 10, 1941 Z-SheebSFSheet 1 Y May 16, 1944. E. H. LEHMAN 3 :1

CAR CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 10, 1941 K I .i2 Sheet-She'et 2 I/werzzw' Edwardlilefiman Patented May 16, 1944 CAR CONSTRUCTION Edward H. Lehman, Chicago, Ill., assignor to W. H. Miner, Inc., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application November 10, 1941, Serial No. 418,434

6 Claims. (Cl. 105 -200) This invention relates to improvements in car construction.

One object of the invention is to provide a locking center pin for body and truck bolsters of railway cars provided with center pin receiving openings and annular retaining shoulders adjacent the openings respectively, the center pin proper being composed of outer sections and a central filler element wherein the outer sections are provided with head portions at opposite ends adapted to shoulder against the retaining shoulders of the bolsters, and one of said head portions is adapted to have rocking engagement with the corresponding shoulder to wedge said outer sections against the filler element to lock the parts of the pin tightly together and thus increase the tensile strength and holding qualities of the same when the bolsters are pulled apart.

A further object of the invention is to provide a center pin of the character specified in the preceding paragraph wherein the head end portions of the outer sections have sharp corners engaging the filler element adapted to dig into the metal of the latter when wedged inwardly to lock the parts together, thus forming, in effect, a one piece member when placed under tension by separation of the bolsters of the car.

Other objects of the invention will more clearly appear from the description and claims hereinafter following.

In the drawings forming a part Of this specification, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through the body and truck bolsters of a car, corresponding substantially to the line l-| of Figure 3. Figure 2 is a, vertical sectional view similar to Figure 1, through the lower end portion of Figure 1 showing the center pin in elevation. Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view, corresponding substantiall to the line 3-3 of Figure 1. Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view at right angles to the view shown in Figure 1 of the structure at the lower end of said figure, but showing the center pin in elevation. Figure 4A is a vertical sectional view at right angles to the view shown in Figure 1 of the structure at the upper end of said figure, showin the center pin in elevation. Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 2, but showing the position of the pin when the body and truck bolsters are being pulled apart or separated. Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 2 illustrating another embodiment of the invention, the center pin being shown in vertical section, said section corresponding substantially to the line 6-6 of Figure 7. Figure 7 is a horizontal sectional view, similar to Figure 3, but

of the car and H the truck bolster.

showing the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 6.

In said drawings, l0 indicates the body bolster The body bolster is of the cast type and has diaphragm sections l 2-l 2, top and bottom walls l3l l, and a center section I 5 to accommodate the pin. The section 15 is of cylindrical, tubular form, as shown, and has an internal, inwardly projecting, horizontal, annular flange l6 between the top and bottom ends thereof, thereby providin a pocket I! at the top of the bolster adapted to accommodate the head at the upper end of the pin. Below the flange l6 near the lower end of the section [5 is provided a second interior, inwardly projecting flange I8 similar to said flange l6, thereby providing a relatively shallow pocket l9 at the bottom of the section l5.

As will be evident, the annular flanges l6 and I8 provide vertically aligned circular openings. These openings are of such a size as to accommodate the shank portion of the center pin.

The truck bolster II, which is also preferably a casting, has top and bottom walls 20 and 2| connected by transverse, vertically disposed walls 22-22. The bolster H is also provided with reinforcing webs 23 connecting the walls 20 and 22. The spaced walls 22 define a pocket 24 therebetween which serves to accommodate the bottom head of the center pin. The top wall 20 of the bolster II is provided with a center pin receiving opening 25 of the same size as, and in vertical alignment with, the openings at the flanges l6 and I8 of the bolster- Ill. A bearing plate 26 and a filler block 21 are secured to the top of the bolster I I in a well-known manner, not illustrated, the filler block being interposed between the plate 26 and the top surface of the upper wall of the bolster and having an opening in the pocket 19 at the bottom end of the section 15 of the bolster Ill. The opening 28 is in axial alignment with the opening defined by the flanges l6 and 18 of the body bolster, the opening of the block 21, and the opening 25 of the truck bolster. All of these openings are of the same diameter and of slightly greater size than the diameter of the pin.

Referring first to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive, my improved center pin comprises broadl two outer sections or members AA and a filler element or section B.

The outer members AA are of similar design, each comprising a shank portion 30 having laterally projecting flanges 3| and 32 at the top and bottom ends, respectively. The shank portion 30 of each member A has a substantially flat inner side face. 33 extending lengthwise of the pin, and an outer transversely curved face 34, as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 3.

The filler element B, which is of the type usually employed in center pins having two outer members and a central filler element, is similar to that employed in Patent No. 1,769,700 granted to me July 1, 1930, and is in the form of an elongated flat plate of such a length as to protrude above and below the outer members AA and has laterally projecting lugs I21 at its upper end of the same height as the flanges 3|3l of the members AA and forming, with said flanges a continuous annular head member. As shown in the drawings, the two outer members AA are disposed on opposite sides of the filler element and the three sections AA and B substantially fi'l'l the center pin openings of the bolsters. The curvature of the outer faces 3434 of the mem bers AA is such that the assembled pin is of substantially cylindrical cross section and fits the center pin openings of the bolsters. The flanges 3! and 32' at the top and bottom ends of the members AA have curved outer edge faces which are eccentric to the curved outer faces 34 of these members, as clearly indicated in Figure '3. These flanges are of such a size that they will pass freely through the pin receiving openings of the bolsters when the filler element B is not present.

The flange 3| of each section A has a substantially flat bottom face which contacts truly with the shoulder surrounding the opening defined by the flange l6 of the bolster ID. The flange 32 at the bottom end of each section A is inclined upwardly and outwardly away from the points where this flange meets the flat inner face 33, toward the mid-portion of said flange at the outer side face 34 of said member, as indicated at 35'. A crown or raised portion is thus provided on each flange 32 which is adapted to contact with the downwardly facing flat shoulder surrounding the pin receiving opening 25 of the truck bolster II when the pin is forced upwardly, thus causing the outer members AA to be wedged inwardly against the filler element and forcing the inner corners at the bottom ends of said outer sections into the metal of. the filler element. The flanges 3|-3-i and 3232 at the top andbottom ends of the outer members A-A together with the lugs at the top of the element B form the heads of the center pin to lock the bolsters together, as is well' known in this art.

The outer members AA are further provided with the usual upstanding perforated ears 3636 to facilitate removal of said outer members by a hook or similar tool. The filler element B projects above the ears 3336 of the members AA andsaid projecting portion of the filler element is provided with the usual eye member 31 which facilitatesremoval of the same.

The pin comprising the filler element B and the two outer sections or members AA is applied and removed in the usual manner. In applying the pin, the members AA are first inserted in the pin receiving openings while the filler element B is absent, thereby permitting the pin to be contracted so that the heads of the members AA will pass freely through the pin receiving openings. After the members AA have been thus applied, the filler section B is inserted downwardly between the same until the lugs [2| of the latter engage the shoulder of the body bolster center pin opening whereby the members AA are spread apart to bring the heads thereof in overlying relation to the shoulders of the bolsters and lock the pin against removal. In removing the pin a reverse procedure is followed, the filler element being first withdrawn to permit collapse of the remaining sections of the pin, that is, the two outer sections AA. The sections AA may then be withdrawn.

In service whenever there is a tendency for the body and truck bolsters of the car to separate or be pulled apart, the pin will be lifted with respect to the truck bolster, thereby bringing the flanges 32 32 of the outer members AA into forcible contact with the downwardly facing shoulder of the truck bolster, causing the members AA to be wedged inwardly against the filler element, through rocking action of the crowned portions 35'35 of the flanges 32-32 on the shoulder of the truck bolster. This action causes the corners at the lower inner end edges of the members AA to dig into the filler element and lock the members AA to said element thus exerting a downward pull on the filler element, the lugs at the upper end of which are shouldered against the flange I6 of the body bolster, thereb materially increasing the efiective tensile strength of said pin as a whole.

Referring next to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 6 and 7, the center pin is of four-piece design, similar to that shown in Patent No. 2,236,596, dated April 1, 1941, granted to Stacy B. Haseltine, and comprises three outer sections or members CCC' and a filler element D having three radially extending wings 38383B extending respectively between the adjacent outer sections. As shown in the Haseltine patent the filler element is provided with three outwardly projecting lugs at its upper end which overhang the flange of the body bolster, The outer sections C-C-C are provided with heads at the top and bottom ends similar to the heads of the members AA hereinbefore described, said heads being formed by-laterall-y, outwardly projecting flanges at the top and bottom ends of said sections C C-C. Only the lower portion of thepin and flanges at the lower ends of the sections C-CC are illustrated in the drawings. These flanges are indicated by 39 39'--39 The inner or top faces of these fianges are crowned, as indicated at 404040, in a manner similar to the bottom flanges 3232 of the members AA hereinbefore described, and rock on the downwardly facing shoulder of the truck bolster in the same manner as the flanges 3232 to wedge the inner side edges of the sections C-CC against the filler element D, as illustrated in Figure 6, thereby locking the sections C-C-C to the filler element D and exerting a downward pull on the latter, opposed by shouldered engagement of the lugs at the upper end thereof with the shoulder of the bolster and materially increasing the effective tensile strength of the pin as a whole.

I have herein shown and described what I now consider the preferred manner of carrying out my invention, but the same is merely illustrative and I contemplate all changes and modifications that -Iclaim:-" 1

"1.Incar construction, the combination'with hereto;

body'andjtruck bolsters having aligned center pin 'receiving openings, each of said bolsters being provided with an annular shoulder adjacent the outer'end of the opening thereof; of a sectional center pin extending through said openings, said pm including a plurality of outer sec-' tions and a central filler element, said filler element and outer sections having flat engaging faces extending lengthwise of the pin, said filler element having laterally projecting lugs at the upper end adapted to overlie the annular shoulder of the body bolster, said outer sections having flanges at opposite ends thereto overlying the shoulders of said bolsters, said flanged ends of the outer sections having angular corners at the lower ends thereof adjacent the flat faces of said filler element, the inner faces of said flanges being forced against the annular shoulders of said bolsters when the latter are separated or pulled apart, the annular shoulder of the truck bolster and the opposed faces of the cooperating flanges of said outer sections converging laterally outwardly to provide for rocking movement of the outer sections on said shoulder and thereby wedge said outer sections against said filler element and bring the corners at the lower ends of the former into binding engagement with the latter to lock the filler element to said outer sections.

2. In car construction, the combination with body and truck bolsters having aligned center pin receiving openings, each of said bolsters being provided with an annular shoulder adjacent the outer end of the opening thereof; of a sectional center pin extendingthrough said openings, said pin including a plurality of outer sections and a filler element between'said outer sections, said filler element and outer sections having longitudinally extending contacting faces, said filler element having laterally projecting lugs at the upper end overlying the annular shoulder of the body bolster, said outer sections having flanges at opposite ends thereof overhanging the shoulders of said bolsters, said outer sections presenting angular corners at the lower ends thereof at opposite sides of the filler element, the inner faces of the flanges at said bottom ends of said outer sections and the surface of the annular shoulder of the corresponding bolster converging outwardly, whereby when said pin is forced in a direction to pull said last named flanges against said last named annular shoulder, the lower corresponding end portions of said outer section will be wedged inwardly against said filler element to project said corners into binding relation therewith.

3. In car construction, the combination with body and truck bolsters having aligned center pin receiving openings, each of said bolsters being provided with an annular shoulder adjacent the outer end of the opening thereof; of a sectional center pin extending through said openings, said pin including a plurality of outer sections and a filler element between said outer sections, said filler element and outer sections having longitudinally extending, contacting faces, said outer sections having flanges at the opposite ends thereof overhanging the annular shoulders of said bolsters, and said filler element having laterally projecting lugs at the upper end thereof overhanging the annular shoulder of the body bolster, the lower ends of said outer sections presenting corners adjacent said filler element, the inner faces of the flanges at the-lower ends of said outer sections being raised at the outer sides with respect to the inner portions of said flanges to provide rocking movement on the annular flange of the truck bolster whensaid' flanges are pressed against the same by a'pull exerted on said pin through separation of said bolsters thereby wedging the'end corners of said outer sections against the'filler element, said corners of the outer ends of the outer sections being relatively sharp to dig into the filler element when wedged against the same.

4. In car construction, the combination with body and truck bolsters having aligned center pin receiving openings, each of said bolsters being provided with an annular shoulder adjacent the outer end of the opening thereof; of a sectional center pin extending through said openings, said pin including two similar outer sections and a filler element between said outer sections, said filler element comprising an elongated flat plate extending beyond the outer sections at both ends of the pin and having a head at the upper end overlying the annular shoulder of the body bolster, said outer sections having laterally, outwardly projecting flanges at opposite ends overhanging the annular shoulders of the bolsters, the flanges at the lower ends of said outer sections having their inner faces inclined upwardly outwardly away from said pin toward the annular shoulder of the corresponding bolster to rock on said annular shoulder and wedge said outer sections inwardly against said filler element when said last named flanges are forced against said last named annular flange, said outer sections having angular corners at the points of contact of said set of ends with the filler element adapted to be forced into the metal of said flller element when the outer sections are wedged against the same.

5. In car construction, the combination with body and truck bolsters having aligned center pin receiving openings, each of said bolsters being provided with an annular shoulder adjacent the outer end of the opening thereof; of a sectional center pin extending through said openings, said pin including three similar outer sections and a filler element having three radially,

outwardly extending, platelike wings engaged respectively between said outer sections, said filler element extending beyond the outer sections at both ends of the pin and having shouldered engagement at the upper end with the annular shoulder of the body bolster to hold said element against downward displacement with respect to said bolster, said outer sections having outwardly projecting flanges at opposite ends overhanging the annular shoulders of the bolsters, the flanges at the lower ends of said outer sections having their inner faces inclined upwardly outwardly away from said pin toward the annular shoulder of the truck bolster to rock on said annular shoulder and wedge said lower ends of said outer sections inwardly against said filler element when said last named flanges are forced against said last named annular flange, said outer sections having angular corners at the points of contact of said lower ends with the filler element adapted to dig into the metal of said filler element when said outer sections are wedged against the same.

6. In car construction, the combination with body and truck bolsters having aligned center pin receiving openings, each of said bolsters being provided with an annular shoulder adjacent the outer end of the opening thereof; of a sectional center pin including a plurality of outer sections and a central filler element extending through the openings of said bolsters, said outer sections having flanges at opposite ends thereof overlying the shoulders of said bolsters, said flanges presenting angular corners at opposite sides of said filler element, the flanges ofv said outer sections at one end of said pin being crowned on the inner side, said crowned flanges having rocking. engagement with the annular shoulder of the corresponding bolster to wedge said outer sections inwardly against said filler element bringing the corners of theformer into binding engagement with the latter to lock said .filler element to the outer sections, said filler ele- .ment having lugs in shouldered engagement with the annular shoulders of the other bolster.

EDWARD n. LEHMAN. 

